TO JAB OR NOT TO JAB, THAT IS THE QUESTION

 

TO JAB OR NOT TO JAB, THAT IS THE QUESTION

                                                                                 

    

MANDATORY PRE-POST STATEMENT

Along with “Our thoughts and prayers”, “Thank you for your service”, and “Not that there is anything wrong with that”; I am required to state:

Covid-19 vaccines are safe, free, and readily available, I am fully vaccinated and recommend everyone to first check with their primary physician and if deemed appropriate get vaccinated.

OK, with that out of the way, I do of my own freewill believe that it is probably a good idea for most people to get vaccinated.  I am double vaxed and am getting a booster.

Having said that (which if you are reading, you know that I have in fact said that) getting the vaccination is not as easy as advertised.

I’m not saying it is difficult, but I just spent 45 minutes getting an appointment for a booster shot at my (almost) local pharmacy.

It was basically easy for me.  I have a computer.  I have a car for transportation.  I am only a partly 75-year-old cognitively declined individual.  I have a wife that can walk me through most of the appointment process.

Statistics say that 65% of the country is at least partially vaccinated and children under 12, about 15%, are not yet eligible.  So a pretty big percent of the eligible country is vaccinated. 

Who are not vaccinated?

 

1.    Some are just afraid of shots in general. 

2.    Some are against any vaccinations. 

3.    Some equate the jab with a political statement. 

4.    Many have had covid-19 and believe they have immunities equal to or better than the shot and that the shot on top of their natural immunity is not well tested and might even be dangerous.

Number one may seem silly, but it is difficult to argue.  There are people who will suffer a tooth ache rather than visit a dentist.

Number two is similarly phobic, but this is a new vaccine.

Number three is ridiculous, but it is what it is.

Number four, may have some validity, I would get the shot, but it still remains to this date a valid argument absent more data.

A number FIVE reason is possibly more common and seems unidentified. 

It is just not that easy for everyone to get an appointment and then get to the venue giving the shot.  Everyone does not have access to a computer, everyone does not have the acuity to ramble through the questions on the appointment applications (hell lots of people can’t read and or have trouble with eyesight).  For many people getting to the venue is very difficult.  Many people do not have a Mrs. Cranky to walk them through the process and are probably too embarrassed to ask for help.

My point is there is not much to be done for those with excuses 1 thru 3. 

You can offer public service messages out the Ying Yang, but will not change many opinions.  Those in the number four category may change their mind, but more needs to be explored before their fear can be categorically determined to be incorrect.  Regardless, arm twisting will only further increase the resistance of most in all categories.

If government wants to increase vaccination rates, they need to do more to reach out to people and communities which find it difficult to arrange for and show up for the shot.  Walk-in situations in local venues need to be increased.  Maybe even mobile units along with easily accessible volunteers to help people with the process.

Are mandatory vaccinations a good idea?  They do work with a multitude of vaccinations which are required to attend school.

The answer to that is simple. 

Mandatory vaccinations are a good idea if they work, as they do with the MMR vaccine for instance. If people simply need the shot to be mandatory to push them, then it is a good idea. 

However, if people are moved to bull their necks and refuse the shot for whatever reason, then mandatory rules will ultimately be counterproductive.

Just as telling a child that if they don’t eat their spinach they will get no desert often will swear a person off spinach for life;  making what is probably in a persons best interest mandatory, does not always get the desired result.

Government should encourage everyone to get vaccinated, give them the facts as best we know them, and make the process as easy as buying a cup of coffee. 

For everyone else who is vaccinated, mask up if it makes you feel safe, stay out of highly populated low ventilated places and you should be safe from the unvaccinated.

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a doctor, but I have been watching ER reruns for the last several months.